Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Good News, Really?

In the first chapter of Acts, we see Jesus, resurrected and with his disciples.  He then ascends to heaven, the disciples spend time in prayer, and they gather together (about 120 of them) to chose a suitable replacement for Judas as one of the 12 apostles/overseers.  Needing to be one who was with Jesus from the time of his baptism, they pick two folks, cast lots, and Matthias is chosen to take Judas' place as one of the twelve.

Notice who the twelve apostles/overseers were.  Eleven of them abandoned Jesus, and one denied him.  Jesus still loved and chose them to lead his church and spread the good news of God's kingdom.

We don't have to be perfect.  We're never going to be.  All too often, I hear people say "I'm not perfect, and I never will be," almost as though they're trying to excuse themselves, saying to God, don't judge me for not being perfect...only you are perfect."  There seems fear in what is said, as if we're hoping to avoid hell.  We know that because we're not perfect, we're destined for hell, but because we believe in Jesus, we get to escape the fires of hell despite our imperfection.

What a bunch of hooey.

God loves us.  Jesus loves us.  I don't know that we're loved despite our imperfections so much as we are loved with our imperfections.  We're loved.  Of course we're imperfect, but who cares?  God loves us.